Somerset complete innings victory over Essex

Somerset needed only 40 minutes of the final day to wrap up victory over Essex by an innings and 60 runs at Taunton.

The home side clinched a maximum 20 points with their first Championship win at the County Ground since 1999 and moved into second place in the table.

Steffan Jones took the final two wickets after the visitors had resumed their second innings on 189-8, dismissing Mark Ilott (34) and Peter Such as Essex were bowled out for 225.

Essex took only three points from the game and now occupy bottom position in the First Division following two miserable batting displays.

Ilott and Justin Bishop showed more application than several of the specialist batsmen as they continued to frustrate the Somerset bowlers at the start of the final day.

Their ninth-wicket stand was worth 37 when Jones finally broke through Ilott's stubborn defence in the seventh over of the day to bowl him. The previous delivery had seen the left-hander dropped by Keith Dutch at slip and, with some dark clouds about, the dismissal came as some relief to the home side.

Peter Such made only four before becoming Jones' sixth victim of the match, caught by Jamie Grove to complete a comprehensive Somerset win.

The hosts had recovered from 158-6 in their first innings, having won the toss, and coach Kevin Shine said: "We are developing some good battling qualities. Everyone pulled together and we bowled very well on a good pitch."